Multiple-contact electric switch



Dec. 16, 1924. 131945.35

R. A. FINIS MULTIEPLE CONTACT ELECTRIC SWTTCH Filed June 16, 1922 IN VEN TOR. Rciwzrd Ajzm s ATTORNEY Patented Dec. 16, 1924.

UNITED stares PATENT OFFICE.

memo A. FINIS, or sAN'raauc-rscc,

CALIFORNIA, ASSIGNOR. TO THE HI-SIGN MULTIPLE-CONTACT ELECTRIC SWITCH.

Application filed June 16, 1922. Serial No. 568,795.

To alZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, RICHARD A. FINTS, a citizen of the United States, residing at San Francisco, county of San Francisco, State of California, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Multiple- Contact Electric Switches; and I do. declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the characters of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this application.

This invention relatesto improvements in electric switches of the push-button type adapted to be manually manipulated. The principal object of my invention is to provide a switch so constructed that depression of the button a certain distance will close a circuit, while further depression of the button will break said circuit and close another one.

Another object is to arrange a number of such switches in cooperative relation in such a manner that with a single lead from a source of current to one of the switches, any of the switches may be actuated at will when the buttons of those between the lead and the switch being actuated are in their normal and inactive positions. In other words, the normal positions of the buttons, of said intermediate switches controls the flow of current to the switches beyond, while not necessarily causing any circuit to be closed.

My multi le switch intended an designed or use with a signal system for automobiles, in which signal system I contemplate-giving, by means of different 1i hts, a number of signals, such as stop, ack, right, and left visible both from the front and rear of the car, which signals will be flashed by the driver of the car at the proper time by 1pressin the button of the particular switc whic controls the signal desired.

I have also provided means independent of the switch buttons for enablin the stop signal being automatically ashed when the brake of the car is ap lied, the current to then actuate thesigna passing however through the single lead common to all the switches.

These objects I accomplish by means of such structure and relative arrangement of sfystem is especially parts as will fully appear by a perusal of the following specification and claims.

In the drawings similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the several views.

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the multiple-switch box as arranged for use with the signalling system.

Fi 2 is a sectional elevation of one of the switc es.

Fig. 3 is a diagram of the circuits employed with the switches and signalling system.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary perspective view of a special type of switch-contacts.

Referring now more particularly to the characters of reference on the drawings, the numeral 1 denotes a casing of suitable dimensions and preferably formed of some insulation composition material, and in which the various switches are located, said casing having a clamp member 2 whereby it may be mounted in connection with the stee-rin column of an automobile.

In t e resent instance, I employ four switch units 3, 4:, 5 and 6, which control the right, back, left and sto signals respectively. Switches 3, 4 an 5 are identical in construction, while switch 6 is of somewhat different design though working on the same principle as the remainder.

Switches 3, 4 and 5 comprises push buttons 7, 7 and projecting through the upper face of the casing, bearing on, and normally held in their outermost position by, sprin strips 8, 8 and 8 free at one end and fixe to the top of the casing at the other.

The fixed end of strip 8 of the switch 3 is connected to a lead 9 from a source of current 10, and normally contacts at its free end with the free end of the strip 8", while the free end of the latter normally contacts with the fixed end of the strip 8".

Under the strips 8, 8 and 8 and fixed to the bottom of the casing are other sprin strips 11, 11 and 11 respectively, insulate from each other. These strips tend to move upwardly and normally contact at their free ends with members 12, 12 and 12, arranged to prevent such upward movement of the strips. Under said strips and normally spaced therefrom are contacts 13, 13" and 1:3 respectively. Fixed to the casing in:

, stated. Each compartment 24 the switch members 30 on with the strips 11. etc., and conthere-with at their fixed ends are spring strips 11, the free ends are normally spaced both from cr strips 8, etc. and from the lower 11, etc

witch 6 comprises a button 15 presse inst a strip 16 similar to the strips 8, c, and contacting at its fixed end with the free end of the adjacent strip 8", and at its free end with a contact member 17.

Under the strip 16, and fixed to the bottom of the casing are a pair of sprin strips 18 and 18-", insulated from each other, which normally contact with members 19 and 19 fixed in the casing and likewise insulated from each other. Under the strips 19 and 19 are contacts 20 and 20, normally spared therefrom and insulated from each other.

Above the strips 18 and 18 are intermediate strips 21, fixed in common with the strips 18 and 18" and contacting therewith at their fixed ends, but insulated from each other. These strips 21 are normally spaced at their free ends both from the upper and lower strips, and the general arrangement and spring action of all the strips in the switch 6 is: the same as that described for the other switches.

These switches may be arranged in more or less circular or rectangular fashion, as indicated in Fig. 1, or in continuous alinement, as shown in Fig. 3.

The signal system which I use in connection with the above described arrangement of switches comprises a rear end signal box 22 and a forward end box 23. The rear box is divided into four compartments 24,

each one of which is fronted by a word 01;

symbol 25 denoting a signal, such words or symbols corresponding to those adjacent the various switch buttons, which are right, back, left, and stop as previously carries a lamp 263 to illuminate the corresponding ignal symbol.

The forward end box 23 has also four con'ipartments, with signal symbols and words corresponding to those on the rear box, except that the word Pass appears instead of back; the latter being only of value to be seen by a driver behind, while the word Pass is a signal especially for pedestrians wishing to cross ahead of the car. A lamp 27 is in each compartment of the forward signal box.

The wiring to the various compartmentlamps from the switches is as follows: A wire 28 leads from the contact 17, and is branched at its end as at 29, each branch being engageable by independent switch means 30 actuated in common by the depression of the foot brake 31 of the car. One of is connected by a wire 32 to the rear end stop lamp, while the other switch 30 is connected by a Wire 33 to the front end stop lamp, it being understood that there is no electrical connection between the two switches 30.

From the members l2. 12', 12 and 20, wires 34 connect with the wire 33, while from the contact 20 a wire leads to the pass lamp of the front end box.

From the contact 1 a wire 36 leads to the right lamps in both signal boxes; from the contact 13 a wire 37 leads to the back lamp in the rear signal box only. while from the contact 12* a wire 38 leads to the left lamps in both boxes. The members 19 and 19" are connected by separate wires 39 lo the wires 36 and 38 respectively.

As is customary, the lamps and one pole of the battery are grounded on the car, the metal of which forms the return lead and enables the circuits to be completed.

The operation is as follows: Normally, that is when the switch buttons are in their inactive positions, a current may pass from the wire 9 through all the strips 8, 8", etc.. to the wire. 28. If then. without depressing any button, the brake pedal is depressed and the brakes thrown on, the two stop signal lamps will be automatically lit, these being the only ones affected by the closing of the switches 30.

Regardless of the closure of this circuit however, if the button 7, of the switch 3 is depressed, the circuit is first broken to the wire 28, and when the strip 8 contacts with the intermediate strip 14, which closes :1 cl!- cuit through strips 8, 14, and 11, member 12, and wires 34 and 32, again giving the stop signal, but only in the rear signal box.

Further depression of the button causes strip 11 to break from contact 12 and engage contact 13, which allows current to flow through wires 36 to give the right signal in both signal boxes. The result is that the driver of a car behind will first observe the warning stop, which will be followedby right so that he may first get his car under perfect control, and when the last named signal a pears, will be ready to act accordingly. 11 order to positively attract the attention the signal, by suitable manipulation of the button may cause the stop signal to be first flashed on and off, or may cause alternate flashings of the two signals at will. The same operation is obtained with switches 4 and 5 except that these besides givin stop dis lay back and left respectively.

n similarly depressin the button 15 of switch 6, the right an left si 0.15 in both boxes are given simultaneous y when the strip 16 contacts with strips 21, followed by stop and pass also simultaneously, the object in giving the two opposite direcof a driver behind, the operator of.

tion signals at the same time 15 to insure no that the driver behind will slow up. since he will be in doubt as to which direction the car having the signal system intends turning, if at all.

From the foregoing description it will be readily seen that I have produced such a device as substantially fulfills the objects of the invention as set forth herein.

lVliile this specification sets forth in detail the present and preferred construction of the device, still in practice such deviation from such detail may be resorted to as do not form a departure from the spirit of the invention, as defined by the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and useful and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. An electric switch comprising, a strip free at one end, said strip being connected in a circuit, another strip under the first named strip, a contact member arranged in a circuit and normally engaged by the last named strip, another contact member adapted to be engaged by the last namedstrip but normally spaced therefrom, anintermediate strip fixed at one end to the lower strip and normally spaced from the upper and lower strips at its free end, and a button acting on the upper strip and adapted to be depressed to cause the upper strip to first engage the intermediate strip, and to then cause the latter to engage the lower strip to disengage the same from the first named contact and engage it with the second named contact.

2. An electric switch system comprising a plurality of spring strips fixed at one end and free at the other, said strips being disposed in continuous alinement and with their free ends contacting with the fixed ends. of adjacent strips, provision being made fo connecting leads to the ends of the line of strips, a button for each strip to depress the free end thereof away from the adjacent strip, a second stri under each first strip and having also a ree end, a pair of contacts for each second named strip, the latter being normally engaged with one of the contacts, and an intermediate spring member between each pair of first and second named strips, and normally spaced from the former: said intermediate strip being engaged by the first strip with the initial depression thereof by the button and with a further depression engaging the second strip and causing the latter to be disengaged from the one contact and engaged with the other; all said contacts being adapted for connection to lead wires.

3. An electric switch system comprising a plurality of strips fixed at one end and free at the other, said strips being disposed in continuous alinement and with their free ends normally contacting with the fixed ends of adjacent strips, provision being made for connecting leads to the ends of the line of strips, a button for each strip to depress the free end thereof away from the adjacent strip, and additional contact structures under said strips and normall independent of each other, and adapte to be actuated by a corresponding strip as the latter is depressed by its button to close a circuit through the line of strips to the one depressed and thence to the corresponding contact structure.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature.

RICHARD A. FINI S 

